Jets WR Garrett Wilson defends Zach Wilson after loss to Cowboys
The first official start of the 2023 NFL season for the New York Jets with Zach Wilson under center provided plenty of frustration as the Dallas Cowboys defense made life tough on virtually all levels. Although the Cowboys only led 18-10 at halftime, Micah Parsons and company put the clamps on during the second half, holding Wilson and the Jets scoreless en route to a 30-10 victory.
As for Wilson, his first start following the Week 1 injury to Aaron Rodgers, who suffered a torn Achilles, brought a stat line of 12-of-27 passing for 170 yards, one touchdown and three interceptions. While quarterback play will remain a hot-button topic for the Jets all year, specifically due to the “what if” factor surrounding Rodgers’ injury, budding star and second-year wide receiver Garrett Wilson was quick to defend the quarterback.
When speaking with reporters after the game, the wideout stated that while it’s “easy to blame the quarterback,” the whole team has to “take the right steps to get better.” Garrett Wilson proceeded by discussing the impact and needs of multiple positions to make his quarterback’s life easier:
“We’ve got to make it easier for him, we’ve got to paint better pictures for him, we’ve got to hold up in protection better for him, we’ve got to get open more, just all that,” Garrett Wilson told reporters, per reporter Harrison Glaser.
Wilson, the receiver, had a fairly quiet day outside of a 68-yard touchdown reception, catching just one other pass for 15 yards. He was the most-targeted pass-catcher on the Jets, as Zach Wilson went his way eight times on the day.
Obviously, there are numerous factors that go into a loss like this, but overall, pitting Zach Wilson against the Cowboys defense led by Parsons (who had two sacks and three tackles for loss) in his return to the starting role was a tall task in the first place. Through two games, the Cowboys defense has looked exceptional and been a complete nightmare for the opposing quarterbacks.
Life also wasn’t made much easier for the QB when you look at the fact that Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott threw just seven incompletions (31-of-38) for 255 yards and two touchdowns. The worst spot for the Jets to be in while Zach Wilson progresses his way back into the starter is playing from behind, and that’s where they were from early on in the first quarter in Week 2.
More must-reads: